Coin of Aelia Capitolina under Elagabalus c. 218 - 222

Curator: This coin, created during the reign of Elagabalus, is a fascinating object. Editor: It looks like it’s taken a beating. I'm immediately drawn to how worn the metal is, bearing the marks of circulation, use, and time. Curator: Indeed. It’s a coin from Aelia Capitolina, minted under Elagabalus. Notice how the imagery echoes themes of imperial authority and divine sanction. Editor: And what was this made of? The production of coinage tells us so much about resource control, trade routes, and the status of the emperor himself. Curator: I see layers of meaning in the degraded state. The wear and tear almost humanize the emperor, allowing us to connect with the past on a material level. Editor: Precisely. What we see is more than just iconography; it’s labor, access to materials, and the economics of power expressed through this humble object. Curator: This coin serves as a relic of cultural memory. I appreciate that we can see the divine right of emperors imprinted on an everyday object. Editor: Right. It is a confluence of symbolic weight and material evidence, isn't it? Curator: Absolutely, the coin speaks volumes about the emperor’s reign. Editor: Yes, it certainly does.